Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB9 House Committee Report / Bill

Filed 05/19/2023

Download
.pdf .doc .html
                    88R28670 JES-F
 By: Creighton, et al. S.B. No. 9
 (Dutton)
 Substitute the following for S.B. No. 9:  No.


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the rights and certification of public school
 educators, including financial and other assistance and waivers
 provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to
 public school educators, methods of instruction provided in public
 schools, and certain allotments under the Foundation School
 Program.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 11.1513, Education Code, is amended by
 adding Subsection (l) to read as follows:
 (l)  The employment policy must provide that:
 (1)  before the beginning of each school year, the
 district shall provide a duty calendar for certain professional
 staff as required by Section 11.15131; and
 (2)  for purposes of determining the amount of a
 reduction in the salary of a classroom teacher, full-time
 counselor, or full-time librarian for unpaid leave, the employee's
 daily rate of pay is computed by dividing the employee's annual
 salary by the number of days the employee is expected to work for
 that school year as provided by the district's duty calendar
 adopted under Section 11.15131.
 SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 11.15131 to read as follows:
 Sec. 11.15131.  DUTY CALENDAR FOR CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL
 STAFF. (a) In this section, "supplemental duty" means a duty not
 assigned under an employee's employment contract, that is expected
 to be performed on an instructional day and that may be governed by
 an agreement, other than the employee's employment contract,
 between the school district and the employee.
 (b)  Not later than the 45th day before the first
 instructional day of each school year, the board of trustees of a
 school district shall adopt and provide to each classroom teacher,
 full-time counselor, and full-time librarian employed by the
 district a calendar that specifies the days each employee is
 expected to work during that school year, including each day on
 which the employee is expected to perform duties for more than 30
 minutes outside of the instructional day.
 (c)  A school district may not require a classroom teacher,
 full-time counselor, or full-time librarian to perform any duties
 for more than 30 minutes outside of the instructional day and on
 more than two days in each month, unless the district enters a
 contract or agreement with the teacher, counselor, or librarian,
 separate from the employee's employment contract and under which
 the employee receives additional compensation, for the performance
 of those supplemental duties.
 (d)  A school district may not coerce a classroom teacher,
 full-time counselor, or full-time librarian to enter into a
 contract or agreement to perform supplemental duties described by
 Subsection (c).
 SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 21.010 to read as follows:
 Sec. 21.010.  TEACHER POSITION DATA COLLECTION. The agency
 shall collect data from school districts and open-enrollment
 charter schools for the recruitment and retention of classroom
 teachers, including the classification, grade level, subject area,
 duration, and other relevant information regarding vacant teaching
 positions in a district or school. The data may be collected using
 the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) or
 another reporting mechanism specified by the agency.
 SECTION 4.  Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 21.0411 to read as follows:
 Sec. 21.0411.  WAIVER OR PAYMENT OF CERTAIN EXAMINATION AND
 CERTIFICATION FEES. (a) Notwithstanding a rule adopted under
 Section 21.041(c), the board shall, for a person applying for a
 certification to teach established under this subchapter, waive:
 (1)  a certification examination fee imposed by the
 board for the first administration of the examination to the
 person; and
 (2)  a fee associated with the application for
 certification by the person.
 (b)  The board shall pay to a vendor that administers a
 certification examination required for certification to teach
 under this subchapter a fee assessed by that vendor for the
 examination of a person applying for a certification to teach
 established under this subchapter for the first administration of
 the examination to the person.
 SECTION 5.  Section 21.044, Education Code, is amended by
 adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
 (h)  An educator preparation program, including an educator
 preparation program offered by an institution of higher education,
 as defined by Section 61.003, may not include instruction that
 incorporates the method of three-cueing, as defined by Section
 28.0062(a-1), into foundational skills reading instruction.
 SECTION 6.  Section 21.051, Education Code, is amended by
 adding Subsections (f-2) and (f-3) to read as follows:
 (f-2)  The board shall propose rules as soon as practicable
 providing that a candidate for certification enrolled in an
 educator preparation program is entitled to not fewer than five
 candidate observations during a school year that fulfill the
 requirements for field-based experience if the candidate:
 (1)  is employed by a district of innovation with a
 local innovation plan developed under Section 12A.003 that exempts
 the district from the requirements of Section 21.003;
 (2)  does not hold a teacher intern certificate or a
 probationary certificate issued under Section 21.0491; and
 (3)  takes the subject matter examination required
 under Section 21.048 applicable to the subject area the candidate
 is teaching not later than six weeks after the date the candidate
 begins teaching at the district of innovation.
 (f-3)  A candidate for certification who fulfills the
 requirements for field-based experience in accordance with
 Subsection (f-2):
 (1)  may be issued a standard certificate if the
 candidate completes all other eligibility requirements required to
 receive a standard certification, including passing any
 examination required for that certification, required by the board,
 and in accordance with timelines established by board rule; and
 (2)  may not be issued a teacher intern or probationary
 certificate.
 SECTION 7.  Section 21.105, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
 follows:
 (c)  Subject to Subsections (e), [and] (f), and (g), on
 written complaint by the employing district, the State Board for
 Educator Certification may impose sanctions against a teacher
 employed under a probationary contract who:
 (1)  resigns;
 (2)  fails without good cause to comply with Subsection
 (a) or (b); and
 (3)  fails to perform the contract.
 (g)  The State Board for Educator Certification may not
 impose a sanction under Subsection (c) against a teacher who
 relinquishes a position under a probationary contract and leaves
 the employment of the district after the 45th day before the first
 day of instruction for the upcoming school year in violation of
 Subsection (a) and without the consent of the board of trustees
 under Subsection (b), if the teacher's failure to comply with
 Subsection (a) was due to:
 (1)  the teacher, or a close family member of the
 teacher, developing a serious illness or experiencing a significant
 change in health condition;
 (2)  the teacher relocating because the teacher's
 spouse or a partner who resides with the teacher changes employers;
 (3)  the needs of the teacher's family changing
 significantly in a manner that requires the teacher to:
 (A)  relocate; or
 (B)  forgo employment during a period of required
 employment under the teacher's contract; or
 (4)  the teacher reasonably believing that the teacher
 received written permission from the school district to resign.
 SECTION 8.  Section 21.160, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
 follows:
 (c)  Subject to Subsections (e), [and] (f), and (g), on
 written complaint by the employing district, the State Board for
 Educator Certification may impose sanctions against a teacher who
 is employed under a continuing contract that obligates the district
 to employ the person for the following school year and who:
 (1)  resigns;
 (2)  fails without good cause to comply with Subsection
 (a) or (b); and
 (3)  fails to perform the contract.
 (g)  The State Board for Educator Certification may not
 impose a sanction under Subsection (c) against a teacher who
 relinquishes a position under a continuing contract and leaves the
 employment of the district after the 45th day before the first day
 of instruction of the upcoming school year in violation of
 Subsection (a) and without the consent of the board of trustees
 under Subsection (b), if the teacher's failure to comply with
 Subsection (a) was due to:
 (1)  the teacher, or a close family member of the
 teacher, developing a serious illness or experiencing a significant
 change in health condition;
 (2)  the teacher relocating because the teacher's
 spouse or a partner who resides with the teacher changes employers;
 (3)  the needs of the teacher's family changing
 significantly in a manner that requires the teacher to:
 (A)  relocate; or
 (B)  forgo employment during a period of required
 employment under the teacher's contract; or
 (4)  the teacher reasonably believing that the teacher
 received written permission from the school district to resign.
 SECTION 9.  Section 21.210, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (g) to read as
 follows:
 (c)  Subject to Subsections (e), [and] (f), and (g), on
 written complaint by the employing district, the State Board for
 Educator Certification may impose sanctions against a teacher who
 is employed under a term contract that obligates the district to
 employ the person for the following school year and who:
 (1)  resigns;
 (2)  fails without good cause to comply with Subsection
 (a) or (b); and
 (3)  fails to perform the contract.
 (g)  The State Board for Educator Certification may not
 impose a sanction under Subsection (c) against a teacher who
 relinquishes a position under a term contract and leaves the
 employment of the district after the 45th day before the first day
 of instruction of the upcoming school year in violation of
 Subsection (a) and without the consent of the board of trustees
 under Subsection (b), if the teacher's failure to comply with
 Subsection (a) was due to:
 (1)  the teacher, or a close family member of the
 teacher, developing a serious illness or experiencing a significant
 change in health condition;
 (2)  the teacher relocating because the teacher's
 spouse or a partner who resides with the teacher changes employers;
 (3)  the needs of the teacher's family changing
 significantly in a manner that requires the teacher to:
 (A)  relocate; or
 (B)  forgo employment during a period of required
 employment under the teacher's contract; or
 (4)  the teacher reasonably believing that the teacher
 received written permission from the school district to resign.
 SECTION 10.  Sections 21.3521(a), (c), and (e), Education
 Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (a)  Subject to Subsection (b), a school district or
 open-enrollment charter school may designate a classroom teacher as
 a master, exemplary, [or] recognized, or acknowledged teacher for a
 five-year period based on the results from single year or multiyear
 appraisals that comply with Section 21.351 or 21.352.
 (c)  Notwithstanding performance standards established
 under Subsection (b), a classroom teacher that holds a National
 Board Certification issued by the National Board for Professional
 Teaching Standards may be designated as nationally board certified
 [recognized].
 (e)  The agency shall develop and provide technical
 assistance for school districts and open-enrollment charter
 schools that request assistance in implementing a local optional
 teacher designation system, including:
 (1)  providing assistance in prioritizing high needs
 campuses;
 (2)  providing examples of local optional teacher
 designation systems;
 (3)  applying the performance and validity standards
 established by the commissioner under Subsection (b);
 (4)  providing centralized support for the analysis of
 the results of assessment instruments administered to district or
 school students; and
 (5)  facilitating effective communication on and
 promotion of local optional teacher designation systems.
 SECTION 11.  Subchapter H, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 21.3522 to read as follows:
 Sec. 21.3522.  LOCAL OPTIONAL TEACHER DESIGNATION SYSTEM
 GRANT PROGRAM. (a)  From funds appropriated or otherwise available
 for the purpose, the agency shall establish and administer a grant
 program to provide money and technical assistance to:
 (1)  expand implementation of local optional teacher
 designation systems under Section 21.3521; and
 (2)  increase the number of classroom teachers eligible
 for a designation under that section.
 (b)  A grant awarded under this section must:
 (1)  meet the needs of individual school districts; and
 (2)  enable regional leadership capacity.
 (c)  The commissioner may adopt rules to establish and
 administer the grant program under this section.
 SECTION 12.  Subchapter I, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 21.416 to read as follows:
 Sec. 21.416.  EMPLOYED RETIREE TEACHER REIMBURSEMENT GRANT
 PROGRAM. (a)  From funds appropriated or otherwise available, the
 commissioner shall establish and administer a grant program to
 award funds to reimburse a school district or open-enrollment
 charter school that hires a teacher who retired before September 1,
 2022, for the increased contributions to the Teacher Retirement
 System of Texas associated with hiring the retired teacher.
 (b)  In appropriating money for grants awarded under this
 section, the legislature may provide for, modify, or limit amounts
 appropriated for that purpose in the General Appropriations Act,
 including by:
 (1)  providing, notwithstanding Subsection (a), a date
 or date range other than September 1, 2022, before which a teacher
 must have retired for a school district or open-enrollment charter
 school that hires the teacher to be eligible; or
 (2)  limiting eligibility to a school district or
 open-enrollment charter school that hires a retired teacher:
 (A)  who holds a certain certification;
 (B)  to teach a certain subject or grade;
 (C)  in a certain geographical area; or
 (D)  to provide instruction to certain students,
 including to students with disabilities.
 (c)  The commissioner shall proportionally reduce the amount
 of funds awarded to school districts and open-enrollment charter
 schools under this section if the number of grant applications by
 eligible districts or schools exceeds the number of grants the
 commissioner could award with the money appropriated or otherwise
 available for the purpose.
 (d)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
 use funds received under this section to make required payments
 under Section 825.4092, Government Code.
 SECTION 13.  Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Sections 21.466 and 21.467 to read as follows:
 Sec. 21.466.  TEACHER QUALITY ASSISTANCE. (a) From funds
 appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the agency
 shall develop training for and provide technical assistance to
 school districts and open-enrollment charter schools regarding:
 (1)  strategic compensation, staffing, and scheduling
 efforts that improve professional growth, teacher leadership
 opportunities, and staff retention;
 (2)  programs that encourage high school students or
 other members of the community in the area served by the district to
 become teachers, including available teacher apprenticeship
 programs; and
 (3)  programs or strategies that school leaders may use
 to establish clear and attainable behavior expectations while
 proactively supporting students.
 (b)  From funds appropriated or otherwise available, the
 agency shall provide grants to school districts and open-enrollment
 charter schools to implement initiatives developed under this
 section.
 Sec. 21.467.  TEACHER TIME STUDY. (a) From funds
 appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the agency
 shall develop and maintain a technical assistance program to
 support school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in:
 (1)  studying how the district's or school's staff and
 student schedules, required noninstructional duties for classroom
 teachers, and professional development requirements for educators
 are affecting the amount of time classroom teachers work each week;
 and
 (2)  refining the schedules for students or staff as
 necessary to ensure teachers have sufficient time during normal
 work hours to fulfill all job duties, including addressing the
 needs of students.
 (b)  The agency shall periodically make findings and
 recommendations for best practices publicly available using
 information from participating school districts and
 open-enrollment charter schools.
 SECTION 14.  Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by
 adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
 SUBCHAPTER R. TEXAS TEACHER RESIDENCY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM
 Sec. 21.901.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
 (1)  "Board" means the State Board for Educator
 Certification.
 (2)  "Cooperating teacher" means a classroom teacher
 who:
 (A)  has at least three complete years of teaching
 experience with a superior record of assisting students, as a
 whole, in achieving improvement in student performance;
 (B)  is employed by a school district or
 open-enrollment charter school participating in a partnership
 program under this subchapter and paired with a partnership
 resident at the district or school; and
 (C)  provides coaching to a partnership resident
 in the teacher's classroom.
 (3)  "Partnership program" means a Texas Teacher
 Residency Partnership Program established at a school district or
 open-enrollment charter school in accordance with this subchapter.
 (4)  "Partnership resident" means a person enrolled in
 a qualified educator preparation program participating in a
 partnership program as a candidate for educator certification.
 (5)  "Qualified educator preparation program" means an
 educator preparation program approved in accordance with rules
 proposed under Section 21.903.
 Sec. 21.902.  ESTABLISHMENT OF PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. (a)
 The commissioner shall establish the Texas Teacher Residency
 Partnership Program to enable qualified educator preparation
 programs to form partnerships with school districts or
 open-enrollment charter schools to provide residency positions to
 partnership residents at the district or school.
 (b)  The partnership program must be designed to:
 (1)  allow partnership residents to receive
 field-based experience working with cooperating teachers in
 prekindergarten through grade 12 classrooms; and
 (2)  gradually increase the amount of time a
 partnership resident spends engaging in instructional
 responsibilities, including observation, co-teaching, and
 lead-teaching responsibilities.
 Sec. 21.903.  QUALIFIED EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS. The
 board shall propose rules specifying the requirements for board
 approval of an educator preparation program as a qualified educator
 preparation program for purposes of this subchapter.  The rules
 must require an educator preparation program to:
 (1)  use research-based best practices for recruiting
 and admitting candidates into the educator preparation program to
 participate in the partnership program;
 (2)  integrate curriculum, classroom practice, and
 formal observation and feedback;
 (3)  use multiple assessments to measure a partnership
 resident's progress in the partnership program; and
 (4)  partner with a school district or open-enrollment
 charter school.
 Sec. 21.904.  REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATING DISTRICTS AND
 SCHOOLS. (a)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
 participating in the partnership program shall:
 (1)  enter into a written agreement with a qualified
 educator preparation program to:
 (A)  provide a partnership resident with at least
 one school year of clinical teaching in a residency position at the
 district or school in the subject area and grade level for which the
 resident seeks certification; and
 (B)  pair the partnership resident with a
 cooperating teacher;
 (2)  only use money received under Section 48.157 to:
 (A)  implement the partnership program;
 (B)  provide compensation to:
 (i)  partnership residents in residency
 positions at the district or school; and
 (ii)  cooperating teachers who are paired
 with partnership residents at the district or school; and
 (C)  provide an amount equal to at least 10
 percent of the funding received by the district or school to the
 qualified educator preparation program with which the district or
 school partners;
 (3)  pay at least 50 percent of the compensation paid to
 partnership residents using money other than money received under
 Section 48.157; and
 (4)  provide any information required by the agency
 regarding the district's or school's implementation of the program.
 (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
 only pair a partnership resident with a cooperating teacher who
 agrees to participate in that role in a partnership program at the
 district or school partnership program.
 (c)  A partnership resident may not serve as a teacher of
 record, as that term is defined by Section 21.051.
 Sec. 21.905.  RESIDENCY EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE. The board
 shall propose rules specifying the requirements for the issuance of
 a residency educator certificate to a candidate who has
 successfully completed a qualified educator preparation program
 under Section 21.903.  The rules may not require the resident to
 pass a pedagogy examination unless the examination tests
 subject-specific content appropriate for the grade and subject area
 for which the candidate seeks certification.
 Sec. 21.906.  AGENCY SUPPORT. The agency shall provide
 technical assistance, planning, and support to school districts,
 open-enrollment charter schools, and qualified educator
 preparation programs, which must include:
 (1)  providing model forms and agreements a district,
 school, or educator preparation program may use to comply with the
 requirements of this subchapter; and
 (2)  support for district and school strategic staffing
 and compensation models to incentivize participation in a
 partnership program.
 Sec. 21.907.  AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CERTAIN FUNDS. The
 commissioner may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations
 from public and private entities to use for the purposes of this
 subchapter.
 Sec. 21.908.  RULES; NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING COMMITTEE. (a)
 The board shall propose rules necessary to implement this
 subchapter, including, subject to Subsection (b), rules under
 Sections 21.903 and 21.905.
 (b)  In using negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter
 2008, Government Code, for any proposed rule related to the
 implementation of Section 21.903 or 21.905, the board must appoint
 to the negotiated rulemaking committee persons representing
 institutions of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003.
 (c)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to
 implement this subchapter after considering the recommendations of
 the negotiated rulemaking committee appointed under Subsection
 (b).
 SECTION 15.  Section 28.0062, Education Code, is amended by
 adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
 (a-1)  In this subsection, "three-cueing" means any model,
 including the model referred to as meaning, structure, and visual
 cues (MSV), of teaching a student to read based on meaning,
 structure and syntax, and visual cues or memory. A school district
 or open-enrollment charter school may not include any instruction
 that incorporates three-cueing in the foundational skills reading
 curriculum for kindergarten through third grade.
 SECTION 16.  Sections 29.054(b) and (c), Education Code, are
 amended to read as follows:
 (b)  An application for an exception may be filed with the
 agency when a district is unable to hire a sufficient number of
 teachers with teaching certificates appropriate for bilingual
 education instruction to staff the required program. The
 application must be accompanied by:
 (1)  documentation showing that the district has taken
 all reasonable affirmative steps to secure teachers with teaching
 certificates appropriate for bilingual education instruction and
 has failed;
 (2)  documentation showing that the district has
 affirmative hiring policies and procedures consistent with the need
 to serve emergent bilingual students;
 (3)  documentation showing that, on the basis of
 district records, no teacher having a teaching certificate
 appropriate for bilingual instruction or emergency credentials has
 been unjustifiably denied employment by the district within the
 past 36 [12] months; and
 (4)  a plan detailing specific measures to be used by
 the district to eliminate the conditions that created the need for
 an exception.
 (c)  An exception shall be granted under this section on an
 individual district basis and is valid for three years [only one
 year]. Application for an exception for a second or succeeding
 three-year period: [year]
 (1)  must be accompanied by the documentation
 prescribed by Subsection (b); and
 (2)  may be for different teachers than the teachers
 who were included in an application for an exception for a preceding
 period.
 SECTION 17.  Section 29.153(b), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (b)  A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten
 class under this section if the child is at least three years of age
 and:
 (1)  is unable to speak and comprehend the English
 language;
 (2)  is educationally disadvantaged;
 (3)  is homeless, regardless of the residence of the
 child, of either parent of the child, or of the child's guardian or
 other person having lawful control of the child;
 (4)  is the child of an active duty member of the armed
 forces of the United States, including the state military forces or
 a reserve component of the armed forces, who is ordered to active
 duty by proper authority;
 (5)  is the child of a member of the armed forces of the
 United States, including the state military forces or a reserve
 component of the armed forces, who was injured or killed while
 serving on active duty;
 (6)  is or ever has been in:
 (A)  the conservatorship of the Department of
 Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing held
 as provided by Section 262.201, Family Code; or
 (B)  foster care in another state or territory, if
 the child resides in this state; [or]
 (7)  is the child of a person eligible for the Star of
 Texas Award as:
 (A)  a peace officer under Section 3106.002,
 Government Code;
 (B)  a firefighter under Section 3106.003,
 Government Code; or
 (C)  an emergency medical first responder under
 Section 3106.004, Government Code; or
 (8)  is the child of a person employed as a classroom
 teacher at a public primary or secondary school in the school
 district that offers a prekindergarten class under this section.
 SECTION 18.  Section 48.108, Education Code, is amended by
 adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
 (a-1)  For each student in average daily attendance in
 prekindergarten, a school district is entitled to an annual
 allotment equal to the basic allotment multiplied by 0.1 if the
 student is at least four years of age and eligible to enroll in a
 prekindergarten class under Section 29.153(b).
 SECTION 19.  Sections 48.112(c) and (d), Education Code, are
 amended to read as follows:
 (c)  For each classroom teacher with a teacher designation
 under Section 21.3521 employed by a school district, the school
 district is entitled to an allotment equal to the following
 applicable base amount increased by the high needs and rural factor
 as determined under Subsection (d):
 (1)  $12,000, or an increased amount not to exceed
 $36,000 [$32,000] as determined under Subsection (d), for each
 master teacher;
 (2)  $9,000 [$6,000], or an increased amount not to
 exceed $25,000 [$18,000] as determined under Subsection (d), for
 each exemplary teacher; [and]
 (3)  $5,000 [$3,000], or an increased amount not to
 exceed $15,000 [$9,000] as determined under Subsection (d), for
 each recognized teacher; and
 (4)  $3,000, or an increased amount not to exceed
 $9,000 as determined under Subsection (d), for each:
 (A)  acknowledged teacher; or
 (B)  teacher designated as nationally board
 certified.
 (d)  The high needs and rural factor is determined by
 multiplying the following applicable amounts by the average of the
 point value assigned to each student at a district campus under
 Subsection (e):
 (1)  $6,000 [$5,000] for each master teacher;
 (2)  $4,000 [$3,000] for each exemplary teacher; [and]
 (3)  $2,500 [$1,500] for each recognized teacher; and
 (4)  $1,500 for each:
 (A)  acknowledged teacher; or
 (B)  teacher designated as nationally board
 certified.
 SECTION 20.  Section 48.114, Education Code, is amended by
 amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
 follows:
 (a)  A school district [that has implemented a mentoring
 program for classroom teachers who have less than two years of
 teaching experience under Section 21.458] is entitled to an
 allotment [as determined under Subsection (b)] to fund a [the]
 mentoring program and to provide stipends for mentor teachers if:
 (1)  the district has implemented a mentoring program
 for classroom teachers under Section 21.458; and
 (2)  the mentor teachers assigned under that program
 complete a training program that is required or developed by the
 agency for mentor teachers.
 (d)  A school district is entitled to an allotment of $2,000
 for each classroom teacher with less than two years of experience
 who participates in a mentoring program described by Subsection
 (a). A district may receive an allotment under this section for no
 more than 40 teachers during a school year, except that the
 commissioner may approve an application submitted by the district
 to receive for a school year additional allotments for additional
 classroom teachers, if the district has more than 40 classroom
 teachers who are eligible to participate in the mentoring program
 described by Subsection (a).  In approving applications under this
 subsection, the commissioner shall ensure the total amount provided
 in allotments under this section does not exceed the amount
 appropriated for that purpose for that school year.
 SECTION 21.  Subchapter D, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
 amended by adding Section 48.157 to read as follows:
 Sec. 48.157.  RESIDENCY PARTNERSHIP ALLOTMENT. (a)  In this
 section:
 (1)  "Partnership program" and "partnership resident"
 have the meanings assigned by Section 21.901.
 (2)  "Rural campus" has the meaning assigned by Section
 48.112.
 (b)  For each partnership resident employed at a school
 district in a residency position under Subchapter R, Chapter 21,
 the district is entitled to an allotment equal to a base amount of
 $22,000 increased by the high needs and rural factor, as determined
 under Subsection (c), to an amount not to exceed $42,000.
 (c)  The high needs and rural factor is determined by
 multiplying $5,000 by the lesser of:
 (1)  the average of the point value assigned to each
 student at a district campus under Sections 48.112(e) and (f); or
 (2)  4.0.
 (d)  In addition to the funding under Subsection (b), a
 district that qualifies for an allotment under this section is
 entitled to an additional $2,000 for each partnership resident
 employed in a residency position at the district who is a candidate
 for special education or bilingual education certification.
 (e)  The Texas School for the Deaf and the Texas School for
 the Blind and Visually Impaired are entitled to an allotment under
 this section.  If the commissioner determines that assigning point
 values under Subsection (c) to students enrolled in the Texas
 School for the Deaf or the Texas School for the Blind and Visually
 Impaired is impractical, the commissioner may use the average point
 value assigned for those students' home districts for purposes of
 calculating the high needs and rural factor.
 SECTION 22.  The following provisions are repealed:
 (1)  Section 48.114(b), Education Code;
 (2)  Subchapter Q, Chapter 21, Education Code; and
 (3)  Section 825.4092(f), Government Code, as added by
 Chapter 546 (S.B. 202), Acts of the 87th Legislature, Regular
 Session, 2021.
 SECTION 23.  Immediately following the effective date of
 this Act, a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall
 redesignate a teacher who holds a designation made under Section
 21.3521, Education Code, before the effective date of this Act, to
 reflect the teacher's designation under Section 21.3521, Education
 Code, as amended by this Act. Funding provided to a school district
 under Section 48.112, Education Code, for a teacher who held a
 designation made under Section 21.3521, Education Code, as that
 section existed immediately before the effective date of this Act,
 shall be increased to reflect the teacher's redesignation under
 Section 21.3521, Education Code, as amended by this Act.
 SECTION 24.  Notwithstanding Section 21.903, Education
 Code, as added by this Act, until the State Board for Educator
 Certification adopts rules specifying the requirements for
 approval of an educator preparation program as a qualified educator
 preparation program as required by that section, the commissioner
 of education may approve a program as a qualified educator
 preparation program for purposes of Subchapter R, Chapter 21,
 Education Code, as added by this Act, if the commissioner
 determines that the program meets the requirements under Section
 21.903, Education Code, as added by this Act. An educator
 preparation program's designation as a qualified educator
 preparation program by the commissioner under this section remains
 effective until the first anniversary of the earliest effective
 date of a rule adopted by the State Board for Educator Certification
 under Section 21.903, Education Code, as added by this Act.
 SECTION 25.  Sections 29.054(b) and (c), Education Code, as
 amended by this Act, apply beginning with the 2023-2024 school
 year.
 SECTION 26.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
 this section, this Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school
 year.
 (b)  Section 48.108(a-1), Education Code, as added by this
 Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
 SECTION 27.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of
 this section, this Act takes effect immediately if this Act
 receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
 house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
 If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
 effect, the entirety of this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 (b)  Sections 48.112(c) and (d) and 48.114, Education Code,
 as amended by this Act, and Sections 48.108(a-1) and 48.157,
 Education Code, as added by this Act, take effect September 1, 2023.